Film, music and TV critic

If there's a tipping point for reality television it may occur next month, when Nine's decision to extend their 6pm news has meant that The Block will screen at 7.30pm, opposite Seven's My Kitchen Rules.

Once upon a time we used to laugh about what would become of television programming, joking about putting strangers in a house and filming them 24 hours a day or creating pop stars via a talent quest.

The more outlandish the concept, the funnier the fake pitch … until the reality series started doing all that and more. And now we live in the reality television age.

In 2013, seven of the 20 most watched regular programs on Australian television were reality product; by contrast news and current affairs provided just six. Australians watch an awful lot of reality television, and each year there seems to be more as existing franchises are supersized across entire weeks and new concepts are launched.

Back for more: My Kitchen Rules judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

"Reality shows capture people's imaginations," says television critic and social commentator Josh Kinal (hookturn.com.au). "It's like midweek sport, but with different teams."

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From this week, as the commercial television networks reveal their 2014 schedules, those reality teams are back again. From Seven (My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, The X-Factor, The Amazing Race Australia), Nine (The Voice, The Block: Fans v Faves, Australia's Got Talent), Ten (MasterChef, The Biggest Loser Australia: Challenge Australia, The Bachelor, So You Think You Can Dance) — the year will again be blanketed with tense countdowns and tearful eliminations.

"They're the foundation stone of every commercial network," says media analyst Steve Allen of Fusion Strategy. "We hail My Kitchen Rules as the best of them because Seven applies itself diligently, and Nine is also doing that nowadays with The Block, to quantitative refinement. They understand what makes it a hit: they know they have to cast heroes and villains and how they have to produce the tension that keeps people engaged."

Doing his block: Scott Cam.

There are several factors that make reality series so valuable to television networks, Allen says: They have an immediacy that's a social currency — audiences watch them live or soon after they air, which vastly reduces illegal downloading and pleases advertisers. They've made up for a lack of smash hits from the once-reliable American market. And they're comparatively cheap, especially with the ability to integrate sponsors' products.

Kinal takes a measure of reality television's standing by informally asking people what shows are talked about in the workplace. It's the talent contests that create the most chatter, but no matter what the reality format may be, there's a danger in extending successful shows and dragging out competitions.

"If you can't think of something new, why not make the existing thing bigger?" is the guiding philosophy Kinal says. "It's a sign of desperation. With My Kitchen Rules people love the first five weeks, but last year they brought in new people and tried to milk it and milk it. There's a kind of contract that the shows have with their viewers that they're investing their emotions in a story and that story is going to happen, and some people got annoyed with My Kitchen Rules for breaking that contract."

If there's a tipping point for reality television it may occur as soon as next month, when Nine's decision to extend their 6pm news means The Block will screen at 7.30pm, opposite Seven's My Kitchen Rules juggernaut. When the Winter Olympics finish on Ten, it will air The Biggest Loser in the same timeslot, creating a fierce battle (and perhaps an unexpected bonus for the ABC and SBS).

"It will be wall-to-wall established franchise reality television," says Allen. "When you add extra formats and extra hours the overall audience grows a bit, but the averages fall because there's just too much and people have to choose. There is a finite point of the amount of viewership to reality."

14 comments

Great! A cavalcade of utter drivel and shite to start our televisual year.....

Commenter

davo

Location

here

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 3:46PM

In other words, nothing worth watching. Better stock up on books.

Commenter

Luke

Location

Nunawading

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 3:48PM

The Block will win the male demographic

Why?

Hot twins, say no more

Commenter

FFS

Location

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 3:54PM

"Reality"? Oh, please. I'm afraid all of them will have to do without my support.

Commenter

Paul D

Location

Brissie

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 3:57PM

Reality shows haven't made up for a lack of smash hits from American television, you just import them far too late to be of any use- and they are the ones that people are not interested in to boot! Instead, you allow cable TV to air shows like The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad and Boardwalk Empire (my favourites) which are testified hits. I saw that channel 9 is finally airing Revolution, which has been in the states for two years and ran out it's welcome within 5 episodes in our household (and other peoples if the ratings are anything to go by). Reality TV is the only thing we get in Australia that can be seen when it is supposed to be seen, not having us wait- normal TV shows have just become the norm for pirates.

Commenter

Judas

Location

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 3:59PM

Give me Foreign Correspondent, One Plus One, QandA, Four Corners, SBS World News, Landline and 730 any day of the week.... (Oh and my secret shame is The Biggest Loser, I will admit..)

Commenter

Liam

Location

Airport West

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 4:04PM

No competition really. The block has deteriorated into nothing more than a fight between bogans which is tiresome- the renovation aspect seems to have taken a back seat. What's also disappointing they are bringing back those Trailer trash twins - that's enough reason never to watch this drivel. On the other hand, at least with MKR you actually get to see people cooking and learn something. I accept that they too pick their contestants so you get to at least hate someone but it is still so superior to anything 9 produces.

Commenter

Craig54

Location

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 4:04PM

Turned off Scott Cam ages ago never has there been a more annoying trio on tv him with his childish whistle , Mac Avaney he is just terribly annoying , Cometti and his insipid jokes and I almost forgot and I can't even remember her name that's how forgettable she is the clot that tries to be intelligent with Cam. Surely there has to be some talent out there somewhere as this group, even at the thought of them makes you cringe. However they do assist with keeping electricity usage down as the tv goes off when they come on.

Commenter

rastus

Location

Date and time

January 16, 2014, 4:38PM

Surely there HAS to be something better than this rubbish they can put on Tele??? These rubbish shows are only designed to sell advertising time to.. not entertainment.

Its been done, every station has the same idea, COME ON - SURELY WE DESERVE BETTER